An afternoon slump is when your body experiences a dip in energy. For many people, this usually happens around 3:00 in the afternoon.
As you know, when you're feeling that tired, not a whole lot is getting done...plus, mistakes can easily be made AND it could end up in a dangerous situation if you're on the road or using heavy equipment.
Here are some easy things you can implement today to increase your energy levels.
1) Get sufficient rest. The majority of adults, as a rule of thumb, need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to perform at an optimum level. If you find yourself falling asleep during the day, this is the very first area where you should look.
2) Get up and get moving. The more you sit--whether it's on an office chair or the sofa--the more tired you're going to feel. For every hour that you're sitting, get up and get moving for 10 minutes of it. Go for a brisk walk, stand up and do some stretches, do some jumping jacks... whatever, but don't just sit there. I know it seems like a waste of time to take 10 minutes out of every hour to 'exercise', but if you're falling asleep every day at 3:00, you're not working at a peak level anyway.
3) Grab a mini-meal. Usually when people get tired, they have a tendency to lean towards sugary treats like soda, candy bars, desserts, and extra-calorie coffees. Don't depend on a sugar rush to re-energize your body, because you'll end up with a mini-high that will turn into you feeling tired again soon after. Plus, you're not doing your body any good.
Water is the better choice. Speaking of water, be sure you're drinking enough to stay hydrated all day. Once you're thirsty, your body is already on its way to dehydration...another factor for feeling tired!
If you feel like you're doing fairly well with the above and you're still tired at 3:00 (or other times during the day when you should be awake), make an appointment with your doctor to determine if you have an underlying health issue that you're not aware of.
4) Finally, for productivity purposes...organize your day to match your energy levels. For example, tackle the projects and assignments that require more focus when your energy level is at its highest, and leave email, social media, or lower priority work for when you're not quite at your peak energy level.
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